Heat exchange unit



y 6, 1931. A. s. MQDINE HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT Filed March 25, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l dhvfc 77 for 0771 511118 Maufv'za y 6, 1931. A. B. MODINE 1,807,164

HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT Filed March 25, 1927 4 Sheats-Sheet 2 142595195 5. [Mag/4Z May 26, 1931. A. B. MODINE HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT Filed March 25, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 25, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 QZQ.

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Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR B. KODINE, OERACIN E, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 'I'O MODINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 01 RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT Application filed larch 25, 1927. Serial No. 178,489. 3

My invention relates broadly to heating systems and more particularly to heating apparatus of the kind shown and described 1n my copending Patent No. 1,726,275, granted August 27, 1929-.

The invention has among its other objects the production of improved heating units of relatively light and inexpensive construction adapted to be suspended from steam pipes, or the like, to heat a room.

In the drawings I have illustrated two devices embodying the invention and each preferably comprises a radiator unit formed from two tanks which communicate with 5 each other through a plurality of spaced tubes, pipe fittings including pipe unions being provided for connecting the tanks directly to a steam pipe, or the equivalent, and to a drain pipe, or the equivalent, in such manner that the radiator unit can be angularly adjusted around an axis of rotation. The radiator unit is suspended from the steam pipe by said fittings and a bracket preferably formed in one piece extends between and is secured to the tanks to support means for advancin a column of air through the radiator unit. heet metal housings are preferably provided for the air advancing means.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved device;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a device embodying another form of the invention.

Referring for the present to Figs. 1 to 6,

inclusive, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, the reference character 10 deslgnates a mam or pipe, such as a valve (not shown) and may be supporte hangers (not shown), or any equivalent means, from a ceiling, wall, or the like. A return pipe is shown at 11 and it is to be understood that the return pipe may be controlled by the usual vacuum valve (not shown).

steam pipe, which may be controlled b a d by . 5 is a section taken on line 5- 5-of My improved heat-exchange unit is interposed between the steam pipe 10 and the return pipe 11 and is designated generally by the reference character 12. It preferably comprises a radiator unit 13, housing members 14 and 15, a fan 16 and an electrical motor 17. The radiator unit 13 preferably comprises spaced tanks 19 and 20 which communicate with each other through a plurality of spaced tubes 22, the tubes 22 being preferably formed from relatively thin sheet metal.

The ends of the tubes 22 are soldered or otherwise secured in header plates 23 which are provided with integral flanges 24 soldered in grooves 25 provided in the tanks 19 and 20. To facilitate the exchange of heat from fluid flowing in the tubes '22 to the air surrounding the tubes, I preferably provide a plurality of spaced flanges. or fins 27 which are apertured to accommodate the tubes, the fins and tubes being preferably soldered to each other.

Extending between the tanks 19 and 20 and secured thereto by bolts 28, or any other suitable means is a bracket 29 to which the motor 17 is secured by bolts 30, or the equivalent. As shown, the motor 17 comprises a shaft 32 which preferably projects through the radiator unit 13 and carries the'fan 16 upon its outer end. Obviously, when the motor ,17 is connected to any suitable source of electrical energy, it will drive the fan 16 '100 so that a column of air will be drawn through-the spaces between the tubes 22.

The housin members 14 and 15 are preferably formed rom sheet metal and are prefera ly secured by screws 35, or the equivalent, to channel-shaped members 36 which are secured to the tanks 19 and 20 by bolts 38, or

the equivalent. It may be mentioned that "through which the air is discharged rom the improved heat exchange device. Secured to the housing member 14 is an inwardly projecting flange 44, the interior diameter of which is substantiall equal to the diameter of the opening 42. he fan 16 is positioned at the inner end of the flange 44, the construction being such that the flange forms a housin for the fan.

Adjustably mounte in the passage extending through the flange 44 are a plurality ,of plates 'or vanes, each of the vanes being providedwith lugs 48 which are secured to the flange 44 by bolts'49, or the equivalent. It is, of course, understood that the bolts 49 may bemanipulated to secure the vanes 47 in adjusted positions to control the direction in which air is discharged from the improved heating device.

Common means is provided for suspend- 3 ing the radiator unit 13 from the main or steam pipe 10 and for operatively connecting the tank 19 directly to the main or steam pipe. This means preferably comprises a pipe nipple 50 which is connected by a pipe union 51 to a pipe section 52, the pipe ection 52 being screw-threaded into a T- tting 54 which forms part of the main or steam pipe 10.

The means for operatively connecting theradiator unit 13 tothe return pipe 11 referably comprises a pipe nipple 56 w ich is connected by a pipe union 57 to a pipe 58, the pipe 58 being in turn connected to the drain pipe 11. The arrangement is .such that the pipe ni ples 50 and 56 are coaxially disposed and t e improved heating device may be angularly adjusted around the coincident axes of'the pipe nipples, the pipe unions 51 and 57 being employed to secure it in any one of a plurality of adjusted'positions. Obviously, the provision of the vanes 47 and the means provided for operatively connecting the heating device to the main 10 and the return pipe 11 provides structure whereby the device may be adjusted to project a column of air in substantially any direction.

The operation of the above described ap- [56 and the paratus is substantially as followsz-Assuming that the improved heating device has been angularly adjusted around the coincident .axes of the pipe ni ples 50 and 56,to bring it into any d position and that the vanes 47 have also been secured in adjusted positions, it is obvious that if steam is supplied to the heating device by way of the pipe 10 and if. the motor 17 is o ratively connected to a source of electrica energy, a columnof heated air will 'be dischar (1 therefrom throu h the opening 42 in t e desired direction. he steam, of course, flows from the main 10 through the pipe section 52 and the pipe nipple 50 into the tank 19 and thence flows through the tubes 22 into the tank 20.

Then when the steam condenses, the condensate is discharged through the pipe nipple iple 58 into the dram pipe 11. It is assum t at when steam is sup ied to the radiator unit the flow of fluid t rough the pipe 58 will be controlled by .a vacuum valve (not shown). In the event, a vacuum valve is not provided, steam'may flow into the drain or return pipe 11 without first condensing. The fan 16 draws air through the spaces between the s aced tubes 22 and disc arges it from the device through the opening 42, the air being heated to a relatively high temperature when it passes through the spaces between the tubes 22.

Referring now to ig. 7, wherein I have shown an improved heating device embodying another form of the invention, the reference character 60 designates the improved device generally, which preferably comprises a radiator unit 62 which is substantially identical with the aforementioned radiator unit 13. The s aced tanks of the radiator unit 62 are identified by the reference characters 63 and 64 and the tubes through which the tanks communicate are indicated at 65. Means comprising a pipe nipple 66, a pipe union 67 and a pipe 68 are provided for connecting the tank 63 to a main 69. The main 69 may be a steam pipe, or the equivalent. The tank 64 is connected by a pipe nipple 71, a pipe union ;2 and a pipe 73 to' a return or a rain pipe Secured to the tanks 63 and 64 by bolts 75, v

or other suitable means, is a bracket 78 to which a motor 79 is rigidly secured. The motor 79 comprises a shaft 81 upon which a fan 82 is mounted, the motor 79 and the fan 82 being disposed upon the same side of the radiator unit 62. Surrounding the motor 79 and the fan 82 and-secured to the radiator unit 62 is a housing 84 having a relatively large opening 85 therein through which air may be drawn by the fan 82.

The operation of the device shown in Fig. 7 is similar to the operation of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. Assuming that the motor 79 has been connected to any suitable source of electrical energy and that steam is being supplied to the radiator unit 62 by thepipe 59, it is obvious that the column of air which will be advanced, through the radiator unit by the fan 82 will be heated because of the exchange of heat through the walls of the tubes 65.

The device shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, is of symmetrical construction, the arrangement beingsuch that the fan 16 and the vanes 47 counter-balance theweight of the motor 79 more or less. In both forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the bracket for supporting the motor is preferably of one iece construction so that it forms a relativey rigid support.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

WhatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a radiator unit comprising spaced tanks and tubular means extending between the tanks and communicating therewith, a bracket extending between the tanks and secured thereto, of means mounted upon said bracket for advancing a column of air through said radiator unit, and common means for suspending said radiator unit from a fluid supply pipe and for operatively connecting one of said tanks directly with said fluid supply pipe.

2. In apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a radiator unit comprising spaced tanks, and tubular means extending between the tanks and communicating therewith, of a bracket extending between the tanks and secured thereto, means mounted upon said bracket for advancing a column of air through said radiator unit, and common adjustable means for suspending said radiator unit from a fluid supply pipe and for operatively connecting one of said tanks directly with said fluid supply pipe.

3. In apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a radiator unit comprising spaced tanks, and tubular means extending between the tanks and communicating therewith, of a bracket extending between the tanks and secured thereto, means mounted upon said bracket for advancing a column of air through said radiator unit, and common means including a pipe union permitting angular adjustment of and for suspending said radiator unit from a fluid supply pipe and for operatively connecting one of said tanks directly with said fluid supply pipe.

4. In apparatus of the kind described, the

combination with a radiator unit comprising spaced tanks, and tubular means extending between the tanks and communicating therewith, of a bracket secured to said radiator unit, means carried by said bracket for ad-- vancing a column of air through said radiator unit, and common tubular means engageable with one of said tanks for suspending said radiator unit from a fluid supply pipe and for operatively connecting said last-men-' ing a pipe union engageable with one of saidv tanks for suspending said radiator unit from a fluid supply pipe and for operatively connecting said last-mentioned tank to said fluid supply pipe.

6. In apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a radiator unit comprising spaced tanks, and tubular means extending between the tanks and communicating therewith, of a bracket extending between said tanks and secured thereto, means carried by said bracket for advancing a column of air through said radiator unit, a housing member disposed upon said radiator unit, and a plurality of adjustable means secured to said housing member for deflecting said column of air into any desired direction.

7. In apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a radiator unit comprising spaced tanks, and tubular means extending between the tanks and communicating therewith, of a bracket extending between said tanks and secured thereto, a motor supported by said bracket, the shaft of said motor extending through said radiator unit,a fan mounted on said shaft on the opposite side of said radiator unit from said motor, a housing member disposed around said radiator unit, and adjustable means secured to said housing member for deflecting in any desired direction the air issuing from said air advancing means.

8. In apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a radiator unit comprising spaced tanks, and tubular means extending between the tanks and communicating therewith, of a bracket secured to said radiator unit, a motor supported by said bracket, the shaft of said motor extending through said radiator unit, a fan mounted on said shaft on the opposite side of said radiator unit from said motor, a housing member disposed around said radiator unit, adjustable means secured to said housing member for deflecting in any desired direction the air issuing from said air advancing means, and common tubular means includin a. ipe union engageable with one of said tanks for suspending said radiator unit from a fluid supflty pe and for o rativel connecting said mentioned tank to 'sai fluid su p y i 9. In apparatus of the kind eseri the combination with a radiator unit, of a housing member secured to said unit andprojecting in opposite directions from said unit,

ends of said housing, an element of said air advancing means being located in said housin upomopposite sides of said radiator unit. 7 n testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. a

ARTHUR MODINE.

and means supported withinsaid housing member for projecting a current of air through said unit, an element of said last mentioned means "being located upon oppo 1 v within the other of said housing members,

and air deflecting means carried by said lastmentioned housing member and cooperating with said fan.

11 apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a radiator unit comprising s aced tanks and tubular means extending t erebetween and communicating therewith, of a pair of channel members connecting said tanks, a pair of housing members secured to said channel members and arranged on opposite sides of said unit, a motor supported within one of said housing members and having a shaft extending through said unit, a fan carried by said shaft within the other of said housing members, and air deflecting means carried by said last-mentioned housing member and cooperating with said fan.

12. In apparatus of the kind described, the-combination with a radiator unit comprising spaced tanks and tubular means extending therebetween and. communicating therewith, of a pair of channel members connectin said tanks, said tanks having lugs forme integral therewith, a pair of housing members extending on opposite sides of said unit, securing means extending through said housing members and said channel members'and engaging said lugs, a motor supported within one of said housing members and having a shaft extending through said unit, a fan carried by said shaft within the other of said housing members, and air deflecting means carried by said last-mentioned lfiousing member and cooperatingwith said l3.- In apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a radiator unit, of a housing member secured to said unit and projecting in opposite directions from said unit,

' means for projecting a current of air through said unit, means for supporting said air projecting means with relation to said unit, said supporting means being located between the i 

